Story and photos by Ted Waddell
KAUNEONGA LAKE – Don’t have deep pockets or a lot of time to prepare and maintain a race car?
Never experienced the thrill of auto racing, but want to get out on a short track and see how fast you can go?
So scrape up a few bucks and pick up a used 4-cylinder car, buy a crash helmet and a few more bits of safety gear, install a 4-point roll cage and an aluminum racing seat, and you’re ready to tackle the asphalt at Bethel Motor Speedway.
Engines must match the body and chassis (no using the old racer’s edge of dropping a Chevy motor into a Ford), and are limited to a maximum displacement of 2650 cubic centimeters.
Plan on leaving your turbo charged, supercharged, diesel powered, rotary, or ‘Quad-4’ engine at home, as the folks in charge of the rules governing the 4 cylinder division created it to be an affordable, entry-level class for beginners and drivers without deep pockets to participate in competitive auto racing.
Gary O’Donnell of Grahamsville has raced at Bethel Motor Speedway for 30-some years under several different owners and promoters, and last year went out on the oval in the 4 cylinder senior division, geared for drivers 35 years and up.
Over the years, he’s picked up numerous championships and feature wins. “It’s a cheap, affordable class,” said O’Donnell. “Cars average between $1,000 and $2,000 for the better painted versions.”
“It’s not a tear‘em up demolition division, guys go out there and take it seriously.”
Looking in the rearview mirror of three decades worth of motor racing,
O’Donnell said reflectively, “I’m racing against kids and grandkids of the guys I used to race 30 years ago.”
To view more photos or to purchase prints from Four Bangers Chase the Checkered Flag visit the Chronicle on Zenfolio.
The Catskill Chronicle 
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